COMANDANTE GRINDER REVIEW: THE C40 MK4 HAND COFFEE GRINDER

I’ve been testing the Comandante C40 MK4 Grinder, the newest model, to see how it compares to the competition.

Are you tired of the issues that plague low-end hand grinders – wobbly burrs, inaccurate grind settings, flimsy construction? It might be time to consider an upgrade to a premium brand like Comandante.

As one of the most expensive manual grinders, I had high expectations for the MK4. Keep reading this Comandante C40 review to find out where it met those expectations and where it fell short.

The Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade Coffee Grinder Review

I put the C40 through a series of tests to bring you this comprehensive review of the Comandante C40. With such a pricy grinder, I wanted a rigorous evaluation of grind quality, consistency, and retention. I also looked at the build quality and engineering, the overall user-friendliness of the design, and a few other factors to help you decide if it’s the best hand grinder for you.

How We Rated It

• Grind Quality
• Ease of Use
• Durability
• Design
• Value for Money

4.3

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What is the difference between Comandante MK3 and MK4?

The last time I reviewed this grinder, it was the Comandante C40 MKIII coffee grinder, and to be honest, much of that review is still relevant. The MK3 and 4 are very similar, including an identical burr set.

The MK4 comes with one glass jar and one polymer-glass jar, versus two glass jars with the MK3. It also has a redesigned internal structure that makes it a bit easier to load coffee beans. I’ll discuss the impact of both changes in my review.

Is The Comandante C40 Good?

The C40 has an incredible burr set. Comandante processes and refines the burrs in their hand grinders more than most, and that investment in development and fine-tuning is obvious. The custom 39-mm conical burrs made from high-alloyed, high-nitrogen martensitic steel offer unparalleled grind consistency, even outperforming many electric grinders I’ve tested. 

The burrs on the Comandante are super sharp and backed with exceptional engineering to keep them steady, with the center shaft of the grinder set on double-axle bearings (1).

The resulting coffee grounds are fluffy and uniform throughout the range, including grinding fine enough for Turkish coffee and coarse enough for cold brew coffee. The grind quality was equally impressive when I tested it with light and dark roasts.

If you’re wondering about the difference between cheap and expensive hand grinders, this is it.

Grind Settings

The C40 hand grinder features a stepped grind adjustment with only 35 grind settings. While the range is excellent, the precision leaves a little to be desired. There are roughly 30 microns between each step, which can make it difficult to dial in certain beans and brew methods. Competitor grinders – like the 1Zpresso J-Max, for example – have as little as 9 microns between settings.

Can C40 be used for espresso?

Despite what I just said about grind settings, the C40 is suitable for espresso. I wouldn’t recommend it as a dedicated espresso grinder because it can’t always nail the sweet spot (2). But there are three or four settings in the espresso range, which gives you enough leeway to dial in. I pulled some impressively complex and sweet shots grinding with the Comandante.

Serious espresso fans might consider the Red Clix add-on, which halves the space between grind settings. But it increases the price of an already expensive grinder, and in my opinion, there are better espresso grinders for your money. Consider the C40 an ideal grinder for pour over that saves you from buying a second grinder if you enjoy an occasional espresso.

Grind Retention

Grind retention is super low, as I’d expect from a hand grinder with conical burrs (3). Unlike an electric grinder, it’s easy to tap or shake those last few grounds into the bin. In testing, I measured an average of 19.7 grams out for 20 grams in. 

The plastic catch cup has more static, which can increase retention of the coffee by 0.1 or 0.2 grams. In either case, it’s a non-issue.

How To Use The Comandante MK4

Grinding coffee with the C40 is intuitive, particularly if you are familiar with manual coffee grinders. 

Setting The Grind Size

To adjust the grind size, unscrew the catch cup to reveal a knob at the base of the burrs. Tighten the knob for a finer grind, loosen it for coarser. 

This design is practical and cost-effective for cheaper hand grinders, but I definitely prefer an external adjustment system and labeled settings for this price – as in, say, the 1Zpresso K-Ultra. With the Comandante, if you lose count, you need to reset to zero and start over. However, I will say that the adjustment knob is sturdy and comfortable to use, unlike the finicky versions on cheaper models.

It’s nice that the grind setting stays consistent when the grinder is disassembled and reassembled. So cleaning the grinder doesn’t mean losing your sweet spot and having to restart the count.

Grinding

With the grind size established, the rest is obvious. Remove the handle and lid on the top of the grinder to access the hopper. A small but noteworthy upgrade to the MK4 is that it’s no longer possible to get smaller beans stuck in the handle slot, which was a serious design flaw in the MK3.

Fill the hopper with beans, replace the lid and handle, and screw on the catch cup. Do I wish the catch cup was magnetic like some other high-end hand grinders? Yes, kind of. But it’s not a big deal.

The grinding mechanism is as smooth and ergonomic as you’d expect from German engineers, and the sharp burrs churn through the densest light roasts with ease. However, the conical burrs on this hand grinder are small, so it isn’t the fastest on the market. It took me just under a minute to grind 30 grams of medium roast for a V60 – nearly twice as long as when I was testing the 1Zpresso JX.

What are the Comandante coffee grinder settings?

Comandante recommends the following settings for the C40, which I found to be reasonably accurate:

• 5-10 clicks for Turkish coffee
• 10-15 clicks for espresso
• 15-20 clicks for Moka pot
• 22-32 clicks for filter coffee or pour over
• 25-30 clicks for French press
• 30-35 clicks for cold brew

My only comment is that I had slightly better results going finer than suggested for espresso (9-12) and Moka pot (12-18).

Size, Weight, and Design

The Comandante is a beautiful grinder, available in a nice assortment of colors and wood veneers with a polished wood knob. I don’t generally choose coffee gear based on appearance, but when you’re spending several hundred dollars on a grinder, it helps if it looks the part.

It’s a reasonably compact hand grinder, at 6.3” tall by 2.4” in diameter. Although with my small hands, I wish it was a little slimmer, especially since it isn’t coated in something grippy like silicone.

The hopper holds 40 grams of coffee, which is above the average of 25 – 30 grams I usually encounter. I appreciate the larger size; 40g of coffee is enough to make up to four pour-overs or two double espressos without having to reload.

Travel Friendly

The C40 MK4 Nitro Blade Grinder comes with a polymer-glass catch cup as well as the traditional glass. This addition makes it a significantly better travel option as the polymer jar is virtually unbreakable. Of course, the plastic container has more static issues, but that’s why it’s great to have the glass option for home use. 

Comandante also includes a lid for the catch cup, turning it into a handy container for pre-ground or pre-weighed coffee for an overnight trip. The grinder weighs just over a pound and a half, perfect for car or plane travel but a tad heavy for lightweight backpacking.

How Long Does A Comandante Last?

Comandante hand grinders are very well made (4). German engineering is famed for a reason, and the exclusive nitro burrs are extra-hard. I expect between ten years and a lifetime from a Comandante, especially if you regularly perform basic cleaning and maintenance. Eventually, the burrs will dull or you’ll break the glass jar, but those parts are replaceable. 

But it’s still disappointing to see how much of the interior structure is plastic. Even though it doesn’t really affect the longevity of the grinder (and, to be honest, it probably keeps weight and costs low), it feels cheap. And that feeling hurts when you’re paying big bucks for gear.

Amazingly, Comandante grinders don’t have a warranty. Instead, they’re backed by a vague promise that they’ll help you out should anything go wrong. While it doesn’t sound like a good system, it works because Comandante’s customer service is so good. If anything breaks on your grinder through normal use, they’ll repair or replace whatever is required – for as long as you own the grinder.

Is The Comandante C40 Coffee Grinder Worth It?

The Comandante C40 MK 4 retails between $325 and $360, depending on the finish you choose. Once upon a time, that price made sense, when Comandante was one of very few premium hand grinders on the market. The recent emergence of lower-priced competitors makes it much harder to justify. My current favorite manual grinder is the 1Zpresso K-Ultra, which has finer steps, bigger burrs, and an external adjustment collar – for $250.

Why is Comandante so expensive?

The Comandante has one of the best burr sets in the game; it’s hard to beat for grind quality and consistency. If that’s your priority, you won’t be disappointed with the C40. The coffee tastes great. And if it’s going to last a lifetime, an extra 100 bucks upfront hardly matters.

That said, I worry the brand may be coasting a little on reputation at this point. Comandante grinders are still popular among true coffee enthusiasts and specialty coffee lovers. There’s something about putting a Comandante in your coffee setup that immediately screams expertise. But I’m curious to see how that changes as the market evolves. 

Don’t Buy The Comandante C40 Grinder If…

• You want a grinder to make espresso: A dedicated espresso fan will want finer steps than the adjustment on the C40. You could upgrade with the Red Clix, but I think there is better value for money elsewhere. Check out the Kinu M47 or 1Zpresso K-Ultra for two all-around grinders that make good coffee and excel at espresso.
• You want a grinder for batch brewing: If your regular morning routine involves brewing a full carafe, I recommend sparing your arms and upgrading to an electric grinder like the Fellow Ode 2, which honestly doesn’t cost much more than the Comandante. But if you enjoy the workout, the manual Orphan Espresso Lido Grinder offers a 100-gram capacity.
• You’re a coffee geek on a budget: In my opinion, the best affordable hand grinders come from two brands: Timemore and 1Zpresso. Both offer a range of models to suit your needs. Check out the Timemore Chestnut C2 for an all-arounder or the 1Zpresso JX for a pour over brewing.

The Verdict

The Comandante C40 Nitro Blade Grinder leads the competition in grind quality. Thanks to the unique nitro blade burr set and precise engineering, it delivers uniform grinds for every brewing method. 

The C40 is an expensive grinder that’s facing increasingly stiff competition from upstart brands, but it’s still one of the best manual coffee grinders in the game. And with Comandante’s legendary customer service backing your purchase for a lifetime, the initial purchase cost will quickly fade from memory as you enjoy sip after perfectly extracted sip.

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